CheeseI have to start with the cheese this week because ZOMG, Vacherousse has changed my life! Ever since I first tasted it when someone brought it to my house (yes, I will love you forever!) I have been obsessed with this cheese. Vacherousse (real name Vacherousse d'Argental) is an ultra-smooth creamy cheese from the Lyonnais region of France. It's texture is almost that of thick clotted cream, and the flavor is bright and what I might call "welcoming." You really need to eat this cheese with a fresh, warm, crunchy baguette or similar bread. No crackers will do it justice, I'm afraid. The only place I have so far found this cheese in Los Angeles is at Bay Cities Italian Deli in Santa Monica but please let us know where else you find it!

MusicMaurice Ravel is a composer of whom I've always been a bit intimidated. His music is not easy to comprehend or perform, but it is always full of character and meaning, and his Piano Concert in G major is no exception. Our version features pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, a Frenchman from ... you guessed it, Lyon, where our cheese originates. Enjoy the soft and gentle beginning of the second movement – Adagio – to dive into the cheese and relish how the many textures play with one another in our pairing as they do throughout this concerto.

WineThis wine is no shrinking violet! Bright and full of flavor, this lovely Sauvignon Blanc from Grove Mill Winery in the Wairau Valley of Marlborough is, like most, easy to drink and will pair well with many dishes.

The reason I chose this pairing is because even though the flavors in this wine are fairly bold, they won't overtake the cheese. The rich, creamy texture actually needs a bright and bold personality in its wine partner.